-- The stable outlook reflects our view that that imbalances in
Thailand's external, fiscal, and monetary accounts will not emerge and that
the country's political economy will stay steady.

Rating Action

On Dec. 11, 2012, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services affirmed its 'BBB+/A-2'
foreign currency and 'A-/A-2' local currency sovereign credit ratings on the
Kingdom of Thailand. The outlook on the long-term foreign and long-term local
currency ratings is stable. Our transfer and convertibility (T&C) assessment
remains 'A'. At the same time, we affirmed the 'axAA/axA-1' ASEAN regional
scale rating on Thailand. We also affirmed all our ratings on Thailand's
outstanding debt issuances.

Rationale

Thailand's favorable external position, relatively light government
indebtedness, and the credibility of its monetary policy are the main rating
supports. These strengths balance Thailand's low income economy and continued
political uncertainty.

We project Thailand's foreign exchange reserves at US$190 billion (eight
months of current account payments) by the end of 2012. Thailand has run
(mostly small) current account surpluses since 2006, and we expect this trend
to continue at least through 2015. As a result, we estimate net external
liabilities at 14% of current account receipts at year-end 2012 and expect
external liquid assets of the government and financial sector to be double
that of the nation's external debt.

Similarly, the general government has run surpluses or small deficits since
its recovery from the Asian financial crisis of 1997. After steadily declining
to 17% of GDP in fiscal 2008 (ending Sept. 30, 2008), net general government
debt rose to 24% of GDP at the end of fiscal 2011. We expect the ratio to
increase only modestly through 2015. The general government's interest burden
remained a comfortable 5.5% of revenue.

Thailand's inflation, as shown by the Consumer Price Index, has been less than
5.5% per year since 1999. Credit growth has been in line with nominal GDP
growth. We rank the country's banking system '5' on a scale of 10 (see
"Banking Industry Country Risk Assessment: Thailand," published Nov. 16, 2012,
on RatingsDirect on the Global Credit Portal).

Thailand's per capita GDP--about US$5,350 in 2012--is a credit constraint. The
country's infrastructure, health, and education indicators also are more in
keeping with those of lower-rated sovereigns.

Political uncertainties have been an important credit weakness for Thailand in
recent years. Since 2006, frequent and at times extra-constitutional changes
in the government have delayed structural reforms, hindered government
infrastructure spending, and depressed foreign direct investment. Street
protests opposing the leading government party at times have caused
significant economic disruptions. However, since the new government took
office, political tensions have begun to ebb.

Outlook

The stable outlook reflects our expectation that imbalances in Thailand's
external, fiscal, and monetary accounts will not emerge and that the country's
political economy will remain in a steady state.

However, we could lower the rating if Thailand's fiscal position and economic
indicators worsen significantly; for example, due to the government adopting
strongly populist policies.

We believe Thailand's economic growth prospects would improve if uncertainties
regarding its political situation recede further, and this would strengthen
the sovereign's credit standing.

Related Criteria And Research

-- Thailand (Kingdom of), Feb. 27, 2012

-- Sovereign Government Rating Methodology And Assumptions, June 30, 2011

-- Principles Of Credit Ratings, Feb. 16, 2011

Ratings List

Ratings Affirmed

Thailand (Kingdom of)

Sovereign Credit Rating

Foreign Currency BBB+/Stable/A-2

Local Currency A-/Stable/A-2

ASEAN Regional Scale axAA/axA-1

Transfer & Convertibility Assessment A

Thailand (Kingdom of)

Senior Unsecured BBB+

Senior Unsecured A-

Commercial Paper A-2

Next In Financials

Dec 9 The Dallas Police and Fire Pension
System's board has halted withdrawals from a deferred retirement
plan following a lawsuit by the city's mayor, who claimed
withdrawals were accelerating the $2.7 billion pension system's
descent into insolvency.

NEW YORK, Dec 9 A private U.S. regulator
launched a hotline on Friday to hear from ex-Wells Fargo & Co
employees who were fired for allegedly opening
unauthorized accounts after news reports that the bank may have
retaliated by terminating whistleblowers in the scandal.

Dec 9 A former Cantor Fitzgerald trader has been
indicted on charges that he defrauded investors by lying about
the price of mortgage bond transactions he handled for them
after the financial crisis, U.S. prosecutors said on Friday.

Reuters is the news and media division of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Learn more about Thomson Reuters products: